From small-town beginnings to centre stage -Anthony Street’s story unfolds in every illusion

By: Bhupinder Kaur

Australian magician and illusionist Anthony Street has returned to New Zealand with a 22-show tour, bringing his new show to audiences across the country.

The new Magic and Illusion show focuses on inspiring stories, live audience interaction, and the wonder of magic. It includes levitations, mind-reading, escapes, and sleight-of-hand, while also sharing stories from his journey, including the same rope trick that first inspired him as a child.

Speaking on Free FM’s Free Breakfast, Street said the show is about reminding people to find joy and wonder in small moments, “It’s more than a night of tricks, it’s all about having fun and making people happy.”

New Zealand feels like a second home to Street as he has performed here for nearly ten years with shows like Celtic Illusion and Ballroom Blitz. This time, he brings a more personal and interactive show that blends stories from his life with magic.

Anthony grew up in rural Victoria, where he loved riding motorbikes and being outdoors. At eight years old, he saw a magician perform a rope trick at a local carnival, a moment that changed his life. “That trick really stuck with me,” Street said, “It was the first time I saw something truly magical, and I knew then that I wanted to learn it.”

Later, Irish dance became a big part of his life, and he performed internationally with Lord of the Dance. In 2011, he created Celtic Illusion, a show that combined Irish dance with illusions and toured successfully in New Zealand.

One of Anthony’s favourite parts of performing is seeing children get excited about magic. “The most rewarding part is when kids come up after the show, giving me hugs and telling me they’re trying magic at home,” he shared. For him, the show is about bringing joy and laughter to families and inspiring young people to find magic in everyday life.

Anthony performs in Hamilton at Clarence Street Theatre tonight (Wednesday, 9 July) and will continue across New Zealand until mid-August, with stops in Whangārei, Rotorua, Whanganui, Nelson, Christchurch, Invercargill, and many other towns. Tickets are available through Ticketek, and more information can be found on his website streetmagic.com.au.

If you haven’t grabbed your tickets yet, now’s the time before they disappear, just like magic.

Bhupinder Kaur is an international student from India. She is studying the Graduate Diploma in Communication at Wintec